Apr 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC – Today’s farmers face a considerable challenge – they must feed a rapidly-growing world population while conserving land and water resources for future generations. As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, CropLife America (CLA) honors the contributions America’s farmers make to preserving precious resources while meeting our growing food demand. Growers are able to meet these dual challenges through modern agricultural practices such as the safe application of crop protection products. With the regulatory framework provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), consumers can also be ensured that the products and practices are also environmentally sound.
Modern agricultural practices – made possible through the use of crop protection products – provide growers with a means to produce more food while using less land. With the responsible application of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, farmers can increase production on working lands while preserving other land for wildlife. New technologies also contribute to innovative farming techniques such as conservation tillage which reduces soil erosion, labor and fuel consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an acre of farmland that is treated with herbicides to control weeds minimizes soil erosion by three tons per year, as compared to an area undergoing traditional farm tillage.
“A vast majority of farmers utilize modern agricultural practices, such as crop protection products, and are helping to change the face of agriculture by constantly adapting and producing more, and higher-quality food with fewer resources,” said Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CLA. “Our members, who are part of this process, are committed to creating and delivering products that allow for sustainable practices, yet are also safe for continued use. We work collaboratively with regulatory bodies to help guarantee this safety for consumers and the environment.”
The regulatory framework, both within the industry and from outside government agencies, continues to adapt alongside agricultural practices. Coinciding with Earth Day, EPA celebrates in 2010 its own 40th anniversary. After being created under President Nixon in 1970, EPA has administered sound guidelines that help shape the crop protection industry, including important regulations authorized by Congress under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Utilizing rigorous scientific analysis and testing, EPA works under FIFRA and FFDCA to guarantee the safety of crop protection products, and ascertain no unreasonable adverse environmental impact or harm from aggregate exposure to the products. With EPA and these integral pieces of legislation, farmers are able to use crop protection products knowing that they are safe and reliable.
Legislation and regulation to ensure the safety of crop protection products even precedes EPA’s formation, with records dating back 100 years. The first U.S. legislation that specifically sought to govern crop protection, approved by Congress on April 26, 1910, dictated that it was unlawful to produce an adulterated insecticide or fungicide. The passage also then established USDA as the regulatory body to examine and approve each product, and set precedent for the USDA as the primary agency to work with the crop protection industry prior to the creation of EPA.
Through new technologies, innovative farming practices, and the assurance of safety through sound regulation, the crop protection industry contributes to a sustainable food supply.
